In my last few previews I've described matches as ones we really should be looking to win if we planned to do something - and that will be the case in next week's article ahead of the Inverness Caley Thistle match. However, there's none of that his week. I always see games against the Old Firm - particularly an away game - as a free hit. If we get anything, it is an unexpected bonus and most enjoyable, but losing isn't the end of the world. Considering we've already managed to draw with Rangers this season, expecting something from Parkhead would be greedy. A good, fighting performs that doesn't see us pick up injuries or suspensions and avoids a gubbing will be fine.
We go to the east end of Glasgow in good form - which is actually a cause for concern. It seems our best chances of getting a result from Celtic is when they're going well and we're struggling. Four years ago we drew with them at Parkhead after being hammered by Falkirk the previous week. In 2009 we knocked them out of the Scottish Cup a week after they'd horsed us at Celtic Park. And you don't need a reminder what happened just days before our glorious 4-0 win last year. But when we go with a bit of confidence, we usually get well beaten. It's the St Mirren way!
On this occasion, Celtic are going reasonably well - although they're second in the table, which has never been enough for Old Firm fans. However, they have a chance to increase the pressure on their rivals tomorrow as they don't play until Sunday, so a win would close the gap - even if only for a day. If we could get something, it would be a real boost to our chances of making the top six - but don't help your breath.
Danny Lennon has to think carefully about how he approaches this one. The attractive, passing football worked brilliantly at Ibrox - but it does leave you rather open and we could be ripped apart if it goes wrong. Then there's the fact we need to be clinical - we cannot afford to miss the number of chances we did against Dunfermline last week because we won't get as many. Lennon could be forgiven for taking a more pragmatic approach and it wouldn't be a surprise to see Illias Haddad put into the midfield - or Nigel Hasselbaink dropped because we can't afford to wonder what he's going to do next at a place like Parkhead. I'd be against that one as his pace will cause Celtic's creaky defence problems.
I mentioned the fantastic 4-0 win earlier, which is still the last time we managed to score against Celtic. Many of the players who played that night have now moved on from their clubs, although Lee Mair and two goal hero Steven Thomson are notable exceptions. Paul McGowan was also involved that night, but he featured on the losing side. He has been sensational for us this season and will have a point to prove - although if he can avoid setting up Gary Hooper for a goal like he did at Greenhill Road earlier this season it would be much appreciated.
Graham Carey will also feel aggrieved at leaving Celtic and should be fired up and Thomson's injury means he could come back into the side. Considering set pieces are our most likely source of goals, good delivery is vital - but the desire for hard workers rather than flair players could see him left out. Thomson isn't the only injury victim, with Hugh Murray, Aaron Mooy and Darren McGregor still missing - although Jon McShane seems to have overcome his niggles.
Neil Lennon seems to have a similar knack to one our former manager Gus MacPherson seemed to possess - when the pressure is building, pull a result out of the hat. There have been suggestions he has been close to the sack on a number of occasions this season but has managed to get out of it with a decent result - most notably at Kilmarnock where Celtic trailed 3-0 and managed to draw 3-3. I'm still not convinced about Lennon - a number of people think he'd have been sacked in the summer had it not been for the off the field issue - and Celtic's struggles this season haven't helped him. Of course, 40 teams in Scotland would love a season like the one Celtic are having, but unfortunately for Lennon he manages one of the two where second place is seen as first of the losers.
Celtic are managed by former midfield hard man Lennon and have an ex centre half in Johan Mjallby in their coaching staff, but they keep conceding stupid goals. Their defence is incredibly suspect and Daniel Majstorovic is rather shaky, with his confidence all but gone. Glenn Loovens along side him is also suspect, while loan signing Badr El Kaddouri was comically bad in the Old Firm match earlier in the season. Summer arrivals Kelvin Wilson and Adam Matthews have also been a bit suspect at times and Celtic seem to be ruining defenders the way Hibs mess up decent keepers. It's something that has to be sorted in the summer or there will be big problems, which is why Lennon has already agreed to bring in Swede Mikael Lustig.
Things would be even worse for Celtic if it wasn't for the form of their strikers. Gary Hooper and Anthony Stokes have been on fire since arriving at Parkhead more than a year ago and I've never understood why Stokes is left on the bench for European games. I'd rather have him in my side than Georgios Samaras, who was victim of a horrific finger nail assault last week. Celtic also have some handy wingers, with Jamie Forrest on fire this season and Paddy McCourt a handy joker to have from the bench. Kris Commons is now back fully fit, while Cha Du-Ri is always a goal threat from midfield. The same goes for Joe Ledley with defender Charlie Mulgrew also a threat due to his set piece ability - and the fact he's also quite handy when he's getting on the end of them.
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